Retaining devices for tape balances



Jan. 8, 1957 E. M. TRAMMELL, JR

RETAINING DEVICES FOR TAP E BALANCES Filed June 25, 1954 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent O RETAINING DEVICES FOR TAPE BALANCES Earl M. Trammell, Jr., St. Louis, Mo.

Application June 23, 1954, Serial No. 438,650 8 Claims. (Cl. 16-202) operable devices for keeping the extended end, of av counter-balance tape in captive position, incident to the removal and reapplication of a sliding sash. These devices are improvements over the fixture identified with Letters Patent No. 2,658,234 issued November 10, 1953, to this applicant for a window balance tape retainer.

Briefly summarized, the present invention consists of.

a tape-carried fixture comprised of a plate member having an aperture through which the tape extends, the plate member being displaceable relative to the tape to a position in which the width of the aperture is such asto prevent a projection on the tape to pass therethrough, and displaceable to another position to permit passage of the projection through the aperture upon slidable movement of the fixture along the tape.

Another important objective is realized in the provision of a one-piece fixture which may be quickly and easily formed by stamping and punching, and which may be successfully manipulated for the purposes noted without any particular skill or requiring any complicated directions.

The foregoing and other objectives of the invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of such a fixture, and a modification thereof, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which: a

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a portion of a tape, a spring balance assembly, and including a fragmentary view in dotted lines showing preferred structure for interconnecting the balance to a sliding sash. Fig. 1 shows a tape-holding fixture in operative tape-retaining position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary isometric view of a corner portion of a sliding sash, a tape holder and a portion of the ta e;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view as taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross sectional view of a portion of the tape, together with a fixture displaced relative to the tape from the position shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view, partly in cross section, as seen along line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the tape-holding fixture shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross sectional view of a portion of the tape, spring balance assembly, and a modified form of a tape-holding fixture, and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary isomc ric view in dotted lines of a corner portion of a sliding sash, and the tape holder shown in Fig. 7.

Referring now by characters of reference to the'drawing, a spring type balance generally indicated at 10 in ice cludes a metal housing 11 having a pair of side plates and a peripheral wall connecting the side plates. These devices are well known in the trade, but for completeness of disclosure it is pointed out that a spring wound reel (not shown) is mounted in housing 11. A flat tape 12 is wound over the shaft or arbor of the reel. The housing 11 is closed at the bottom by a planar plate 13 provided with one or more screw openings 14. The spring counterbalance unit is mounted in concealed position above the sashway with the plate 13 in horizontal position. A slot 15 (Fig. 3) is provided in plate 13 through which the tape 12 is extended against the loading of the spring. At its free or lower end, tape 12 is provided with a hook 16. The hook 16 is provided with a wide aperture 17, and its lower end is turned upwardly to provide a U-shaped portion 20-. Tape 12 is fastened to hook 16 by a bight of the tape through aperture 17, the tape being folded back upon itself and welded as indicated at 21.

One of the side rails of sash 22 is vertically routed, as indicated at 23 (Fig. 1). On the bottom wall of route 23 is located a second hook 24 attached to the sash as by designated a tape holder, anchorage or captive device,

consists of a plate member 32 of somewhat greater width at one end. The wider end of plate member 32 is provided with a tape aperture 33 defined in part by depending tongue 34. The tongue 34 is arranged at an acute angle from the plate member 32 so that the tape 12 will extend vertically through the aperture 33 when the plate membet is horizontally positioned as shown in Fig. 3.

For purposes of better understanding, the lower end of tongue 34 is considered to be one margin 35 of aperture 33, the aperture having an opposite margin 36. The width of aperture 33 is to be considered in a plane normal to the direction of tape movement or to the plane of the tape, and as determined by the horizontal spacing of margins 35 and 36.

The plate member 32 is normally horizontally disposed and tape 12 is vertically arranged through aperture 33. In this position of the fixture, the margins 35 and 36 are horizontally spaced'a distance closely approximating the thickness of tape 12, or in other words, the width of aperture 33 in a plane normal to the direction of tape movement is such as to permit the plate member 32 to be moved slidably with respect to tape 12. However, Fig. 3 shows plate member 32 abutting plate 13, and in a positiot relative to tape 12 in which projection 31 abuts margin 36 of aperture 33 so as to prevent passage therethrough. Thus, it is seen that in one position of plate member 32, the projection 31 cannot pass through aperture 33, and hence the tape 12 is captively retained in an extended position.

The plate member 32 is angularly displaceable with respect to the tape 12, as is best shown in Fig. 4, to a position to permit projection 31 to pass freely through aperture 33. In this position, the horizontal spacing of margins 35 and 36 is increased from that shown in Fig. 3, i. e., the width of aperture 33 as considered in a horizontal plane is now sufiicient to permit tape 12 and projection 31 to pass therethrough.

Margins 35 and 36, partially defining aperture 33, are provided with a compatible recess 37 (Fig. 6) and shoulder 40, respectively, which enable the tongue 34 to be 3 turned downwardly "to lie at a sufficient angle from the plate member 32 to provide a brace against tape 12; If the recess 37 and shoulder 4fl are not present, the tongue 34 can be turned down only slightly because of the relatively f'thin tape. In the preferred smear the margin 36 "('Fig. 3) will 'e'ii'gagethe top of pm edtionsijtqpr'eveht passage through aperture 33, while margin 35 on tqn'gue 34 will normally engage th'e oppdsite side or ta e 12. Since "projection 31 is provided by a dimple in the strueture'shown, the margin 35 will engage the flat side of tape 12 belor'v the depression formed by the dimple. The projection 31 may be located on either side of the tape 12, but is located to projeet outwardly 'of the left side at the ta e (Fig. 3; so as negro cause any abstinetio'n with z'adjacent winds when rolled 'up in the baptize.

hook '1'6 cohne'cted to hook 24, the sash 22 is operatively connected to the spring balance assembly for normal sliding movemen in the sashway. During normal-"sash movement, the plate member 32 lies fiat on top of the sash, and hence will result in no substantial or unsightly protuberance, and will not interfere with normal operation of the sash or tape.

In'cid'en't to sash removal, the plate member 32' may be angularly displaced or cocked slight-1y upwardly of the horizontal, as shown in Fig. 4, so as to increasethe effective Width of aperture 33 to permit plate member 32 to be raised along the tape, and to permit passage of p'rojection 31 through aperture 33. The plate member 32 is then allowed to fall to the horizontal tape-retaining position shown in Fig. 3 with margin 36 engaging projection 31. When the sash is moved to the predetermined renioval position within the sashway, the plate member 32 will engage plate 13, and hence facts 'to retain the-tape in an extended position while hooks- 1'6 and 24 are disengaged. Being 'held captive against further renames, the tape 12 and particularly hook 16 is in a position of ready accessibility for reeng'a'gement with sash hook 24 upon reinsertion' or" the sash.

The reapplication of the sash to the sashway will be eitected by locating the sash substantially in the removal position in the sashway, and reconnecting companion hooks 16 and 24. The sash is then lowered slightly so as to free the plate member 32 from its position of abutment with plate 13. This is followed by an upward tiltihg movement of the plate member 32 to anew assage of projection 31 through aperture 33, follo'wingwhich the tape retainer will drop by gravity to a position on top of sash 22 as shown by Fig. 2.

The tape-retaining device shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is a modified form, and includes a plate member indicated at 41 having angularly related portions -32 and 43. A continuous aperture 44 is provided in portions 42 and through which the tape 12 extends. The aperture 44 is defined by opposed margins 45 in one plate portion 42 which are spaced apart a distance to permit passage of the tape projection 31 therethrough, and is defined by opposed margins 46 in the other plate portion 43 which are spaced apart to a somewhat lesser extent 'to prevent passage of projection 31 therethr'ough.

,Thtis-tape holder remains virtually concealed throughout normal window operation, with plate portion 42 lying fla't on top of the sash as shown in Fig. 8, and with plateportion 43extending downwardly into route 23.

When it is desired to remove the sash, the plate member 41 is slidably raised on' tape 12 until projection 31 passes through aperture 44, and in particular between margins 45. Then the plate member 41 is angularly displaced relative to tape 12 from the position shown in Pig. 8 to the tape-retaining position shown-in Fig 7. In this latter position, the margins 46 of aperture '44 abut the top of projection 31, and prevent passage therethrough; The sash is then raised to the predetermined remov'alposition in which the plate member 41 engages plate 13, and retains the tape in an extended relation. The-hooks 16 and 24 may then -be disengaged and the sash removed in the manner described above. To engage the tape 12 for normal window operation, the sash is inserted in the sashway and hooks 16 and 24 are reconnected in the manner previously described. The sash is lowered slightly, and the plate member 41 is again angularly displaced to enable the projection 31 to pass between margins 45 of aperture 44, the plate member 41 dropping to the position shown in Fig. 8 on top of the sash.

Although the invention has been deseribed by malriirg a detailed reference to a preferred embodiment and a modification thereof, such detail is to be understood in an instructive, rather than iii any restrictive seiise, "many variants being possible within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. A fixture for use on a balance tape in connection with sliding window sash, and in which a projection is providedonthe tape, said fixture comprised of a plate member having an aperture through which the tape extends, said plate member being displaceable relative to said tape, the aperture being 'of a width so that the tape will normally slidably extend therethrough in one position of said plate member, and being of a width so that a margin defining-said aperture will engage said projection in another position of said plate member, the plate member being'earrie'd by said tape.

2; A fixture for use on a balance tape in slidable Window sash, and iii which a projection is provided on the tape; said fixture comprised of a plate member having an aperture through which the tape normally slidably extends, 'said plate member being displaceable relative to said tape to a position such that the Width of the aperture in 'a'plane normal to the direction of tape movement prevents passage of the projection through the aperture, the plate member being displaceable to another position such that thewidth of the aperture in a plane normal to the direction of tape movement permits unimpaired slidable movement of the tape and projection through said aperture, the plate member being carried by and slidably movable along-said tape.

3'. 'A "fixture for use on a balance tape in slidable window sash, and in which a projection is provided on the tape; said fixture comprised of a plate member, said plate 'meriib'er being provided with an aperture through which the tape extends, a tongue disposed at an acute angle from the plate, the aperture having a margin adaptedto engage one side of said tape, and the tongue adapted to engage the other side of the tape, said plate member being displaceable on the tape to a position so that the spacing of said margin and said tongue in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the tape prevents passage of'said projection through said aperture, the plate member being movable to another position relative to the tape to permit slid-able movement of the projection through-the aperture, the plate member being carried by said tape. 7

4. A fixture for use on a balance tape in slidable window sash, and in which a projection is provided on the tape; said fixture comprised of'a plate member, said plate member being provided with an aperture through which the tape extends, a tongue disposed at an acute angle from said plate member, said tongue determining the effective width of the aperture in a plane normal to the direc tion of usual tape movement, the plate member being displaceable relative to said tape to a position to prevent passage of said projection through said aperture, the plate member being carried by said tape.

5 A fixture for use on a balance tape in slidable window sash a nd in which a projection is provided on the tape, said fixturecomprised of aplate member, said plate mmb i s nst f q t pr de an aperture r u w hi ch the tape slidably extends; and to provide a tongue partially defining said aperture, said plate member being displaceable relative to said tape, said tongue being disposed 'at-an angle from said plate member so that the width of the aperture in a direction normal to the direction of tape movement approximates the tape thickness, whereby to prevent passage of said projection through said aperture in one position of said plate member, the plate member being carried by said tape.

6. A fixture for use on a balance tape in slidable window sash, and in which a projection is provided on the tape, said fixture comprised of a plate member, said member being provided with an aperture through which the tape slidably extends, said plate member being displaceable relative to said tape, said aperture having one portion of a width to permit passage of the projection therethrough in one position of said plate member, and having another portion of lesser width so as to prevent passage of said projection through the aperture in another position of said plate member, the plate member being carried by said tape.

7. A fixture for use on a balance tape in slidable window sash, and in which a projection is provided on the tape, said fixture comprised of a plate member having angularly related portions, said portions being provided with a continuous aperture through which the tape extends, said plate member being angularly displaceable relative to the tape, the aperture in one portion of said plate member being defined by opposed margins spaced apart a distance to permit movement of the projection therethrough when the plate member is in one position, the aperture in the other portion of said plate member being defined by opposed margins that are spaced to a lesser extent to prevent passage of the projection therethrough when the plate member is moved to another position, the plate member being carried by said tape.

8. A fixture for use on a balance element in connection with sliding window sash, and in which a projection is provided on the balance element, said fixture comprised of a plate member having an aperture through which the balance element extends, said plate member being displaceable relative to said balance element, the aperture being of a width so that the balance element Will normally slidably extend therethrough in one position of said plate member, and being of a width so that a margin defining said aperture will engage said projection in another position of said plate member, the plate memher being carried by said balance element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 262,220 Goforth Aug. 8, 1882 2,160,675 Renneberg May 30, 1939 2,658,234 Trammell et al. Nov. 10, 1953 

